EDIT: If you DO own a Jem, please vote. Don't let the "and I'm better than you because of it!" ward you off. We know that you're probably not that much of an a-hole . I say this because there HAS to be more Jem owners then this!

Who does and doesn't own a Jem?

And are you here because you're an Ibanez player or because you're an Ibanez JEM/UV player?

And if you do own a JEM/UV, which do you have?

If you don't, why?

I don't own one. I don't because I think it's an overpriced RG550 with less wood to it. Also because I can't afford one and because I don't really like the neck.

I don't own a UV because I can't afford one and because I can get an RG7620 for 1/8 the price. Also, I would probably never use the middle pickup but that's not the reason I don't have one.

I owned a 777VBK back in the day. I miss it a little but only because it looked really cool and they're kind of hard to find now. In general I don't miss playing Jems though because I honestly prefer RG's. The Jem neck is sweet though. I honestly also think RGs sound better, but that's just me.

I have several JEMs, UVs, and RGs. I think the "I'm better then you because of it" is WAY off base. I don't think I'm any better than anyone else, especially when it comes to my *choice* of a guitar that fits my playing style, and is what I'm looking for in terms of feel.

I used to also feel that JEMs were just overpriced RGs, but I don't feel that way anymore. My RG750 and my JEMs are completely different guitars, otherwise there'd be no reason to have both. The neck on my JEM777SK is like an old Strat, its shape is a little more comfortable, and the frets are even different. The RG750 has a super-thin neck and jumbo frets, it's literally a different machine. I use both guitars equally, but it's unfair and incorrect to suggest that one is just a stripped down version of the other.

Same goes for the UV/RG7 comparison. My RG7620's neck is drastically different from the necks on my UVs. You can get a used UV7BK in the under $1k range. Is it worth the price difference? Maybe not to you, but I wouldn't trade my PWH for a 7620. Ever. I prefer the shape of the neck, and I much prefer the smaller frets on the UV.

There's no "I think I'm better than you" because I own and play JEMs and UVs. It's a choice in finding an instrument that allows me to best express my music.

And are you here because you're an Ibanez player or because you're an Ibanez JEM/UV player?

I'm here because maybe I once had aspirations of owning a JEM (I honestly don't remember), but once I discovered musicians like Vai, this seemed like the place to be. Every other forum was just kinda mean (you know know what I mean, D)

Well, at first, I guess it was probably A money thing. Then I went to JemFest, and played a basically any jem a guy could wish for! So, I also played some awesome J-Customs (RG-EGYPT, and others ). I realized, man, all Ibanez's are great! So then, about 6 months later at a guitar center, I found a nice deal on a RG520QS, I loved the quilty top, and the super-wizard was
very familiar to the feel of my fav JC (the egypt, duh!), and I fell in love with it!

Basically, I realized a MIJ-RG can be a ultimate substitute, and even though I think the JEM is an incredibly awesome guitar, in the end, the MIJ-RG turned out to be a better match for me. I just felt that the JEM could be too personal to Steve Vai. It would be like having a monogrammed sweater with somebody elses name, lol!!